Invoice backs claims of banned peptide use

Richard Baker, Jake Niall, John Silvester, Nick McKenzie

Concerns Essendon players may have been given a banned performance-enhancing drug have strengthened with the emergence of an invoice showing the club was billed for a ''Thymosin peptide''.

The invoice provides a paper trail between the club and the possible provision to players of Thymosin beta-4, a substance banned by the World Anti-Doping Authority since at least 2011 for its performance-enhancing effect. It is viewed more seriously than the failed anti-obesity drug AOD9604.

Fairfax Media understands that Essendon players have been unable to explain to anti-doping investigators whether the club's supplements program last year involved Thymosin beta-4, popular with body-builders because it aids muscle recovery, or a benign version, known as Thymosin alpha, used to treat AIDS and cancer patients and deemed by WADA not to have any performance-enhancing effect.

It is understood that player testimony on the issue of Thymosin has been vague and unable to specify the type of drug taken.

Since Fairfax Media first approached Essendon in April about the possible use of Thymosin beta-4, the club has maintained its belief that only the WADA-safe Thymosin alpha was used. However, sources with a knowledge of the progress of the Australian Sports Anti-Doping Authority investigation believe there is a strong circumstantial case mounting to suggest the ''Thymosin peptide'' referred to in the Essendon invoice was beta-4.

Emails in January last year between Essendon's former sports scientist Stephen Dank and biochemist Shane Charter show the pair discussing the provision and best use of Thymosin beta-4. The emails do not refer to Essendon.

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One email shows Charter, who has become a key ASADA witness, advising Dank to inject the drug once a week for six weeks and then once a month to get the ''best results''. This advice is repeated in consent forms given by Dank to Essendon players last year for the injection of a substance referred to in the forms simply as ''Thymosin''. ''The recommendation for the following intervention for you: 1 Thymosin injection once a week for six weeks and then 1 injection per month,'' the consent form states.

A Thymosin consent form obtained by Fairfax Media was signed by Dank and witnessed by suspended fitness chief Dean Robinson. It was not signed by club doctor Bruce Reid.

In April, Dank told Fairfax Media that Thymosin beta-4 was part of his program at Essendon. However, when informed of the club's denial, he said he could not recall which type he gave players. In terms of possible sanctions against players, Thymosin beta-4 poses far greater risk than failed AOD9604, which skipper Jobe Watson last month said he believed he received.

This is because Thymosin-beta-4 falls under WADA's S2 category for performance enhancing drugs. AOD9604 is banned under WADA's less serious SO category.

Dank, who has refused to be interviewed by ASADA, has maintained the substances he gave to players were always safe and did not breach anti-doping rules.

Charter said on Thursday he provided Dank with Thymosin beta-4 in January last year. He said the peptide was imported from China along with other supplements ordered by Dank. ''It is a legal product but clearly a banned substance for professional athletes,'' he said. ''I would assume that Dank would have known that.''

Charter said ASADA had asked him a series of questions about the beta-4 product sold to Dank, concentrating on whether the number of doses equated with the course of injections given to Essendon players.

The AFL said in a statement late on Thursday: ''This is a complex and methodical investigation and the AFL will not comment on its progress until ASADA hands over its report next month.''